Saturday, December 21, 2019

Queen Bees Wannabes Analysis - 1713 Words

Queen Bees Wannabes Author: Rosalind Wiseman SHERRIE HALE Infancy and Childhood Tuesday/Thursday 1100 am December 8, 2016 Queen Bees Wannabes is an excellent self-help source for the parent, grandparent, teacher, therapist or anyone else having a part in helping to guide girls anywhere from preteen to early adulthood. Ms. Wiseman very accurately describes labels, roles, parenting types and conversations and shares this information in a sometimes comical, but to me, always interesting manner. The first chapter is dedicated primarily to cliques and popularity. There are many different roles to be played in a clique. The Queen Bee is the highest on this list of roles. Her popularity depends on fear and control over the other girls as well as boys. The lowest role on the list is the Target. This girl is the one who is usually singled out, made fun of, left out or humiliated. Sometimes the target is someone in the clique and become the target due to standing up to someone higher up in the roles or sometimes they are someone from outside the clique who challenged them in some way. Other ro les are names such as Sidekick, who is the Queen Bee’s closest ally and pretending to be sincere. This gives her power because she could leak anything about anyone at any time. The Floater, who is not just in one group or clique, but is part of more than one and is liked more for who she truly is and not for her social status. Her self-esteem is higher as well probably because sheShow MoreRelatedFemale Writers : Mean Girls ( Tina Fey ) And Clueless ( Amy Heckerling ) Essay1497 Words   |  6 Pageswomen?; Do they talk to each other?; About something other than a man?† (Kusina, 2015). It is very clear that all of the movies about teenaged girl cliques are passing the Bechdel Test based on these three questions. It would improve the feminist analysis of film if there were to be a proposition to adding one more question to the Bechdel Test. When watching films that have a female dominated cast, a fourth question could be; â€Å"Are the women talking about each other?â €  It would be interesting to see

Friday, December 13, 2019

Fashion Flow Theories Misconceptions Free Essays

Written Exam Fashion Flow Theories The Instrument of Meaning Exemplified as an instrument of meaning, the fashion system is a menagerie that takes meaning on an arduous cycle. One that sheds light on how its products are idealized, produced, adopted, and then finally discarded after serving its utilitarian or ideological purpose. Mass communication and other conduits of information dissemination play a role in channeling meaning from its origins to the consumer (McCracken 1986). We will write a custom essay sample on Fashion Flow Theories: Misconceptions or any similar topic only for you Order Now The fashion system flows from one end to the other. At its starting, is the creation or invention of meaning, undertaken by influential individuals or groups that capitalize on their stature or celebrity status. Their influence help reshape ideologies of cultural categories and principles. Fueled by imitative appropriation by those of lower standing, this innovation of meaning is prompted and stimulated (Simmer 1904). American-born singer Lady Gaga is one good example. By using fashion as an outlet of self-expression, her avian-garden style of dressing caught attention and liking. Taking full advantage of her celebrity stature, she has brought about societal form in her support for the LEGIT community. Her constant feature and highlight of gays in her music videos and advocacy of marriage equality have inevitably given society new meaning. Her influence has trickled across to other influential individuals who then pass it on further, resulting in what we see today as homosexual taboos being slowly abolished (with countries lawfully engaging in marriage equality, etc. ). Meaning in this sense, has changed from vociferous aesthetics to a political statement. Aside from the designers of the goods itself, meaning transfer is accomplished by another group of people – the fashion Journalists. They act as conduits of meaning transfer through their work with print or firm media. They act as social observers of social development and reform, reviewing, inquiring and questioning it. They have to possess a clairvoyant quality as to pick out specific fashions they approve of then disseminating their choices onto their assigned publications. This in turn also affects the designers having their influence felt even before the early adopters of society or opinion leaders. Suez Menses is a British fashion Journalist currently serving as the dead fashion reporter and editor for the International Herald Tribune. Her work there involves reviewing fashion runways and giving her opinions on it, all of which is widely read by the public. Early February this year, Menses published an article for the New York Times titled â€Å"The Circus of Fashion†. In that article she gave her views on the changing dynamics of the biannual fashion shows; how the focus seems to be changing towards the people who â€Å"peacock† outside them (Menses 2013). This shift in paradigm stimulated others to rethink, with others giving their own views e. G. Garage Magazine (Take My Picture, 2013). It is such reviews that contribute to the shaping and reshaping of publics ideals of fashion. In the case study of the â€Å"preppie look† we see how the fashion system comes into play in this transfer of meaning. Originating from high society, people of upper- upper and upper-lower classes, the preppie look was a signifier of that particular social stratum. The term preppy derives from the expensive pre-college preparatory or prep schools that upper-middle-class White Anglo-Saxon Protestant children on the United States’ East Coast (Fashion Encyclopedia 2013). Introduced in the sass, the preppy look has continually gone in and out of style. During the sass soap operas like Dynasty and Dallas brought about this social acceptance for the style. The North Americans who frequently watched these evening soaps generally began to accept and adopt the style of the preppy look due to its association with the show and its characters. This radical change of meaning transcends from what originally was being associated with upper-middle class stringent pre-college prep-school dress code, to the incorporation of lifestyle habits by lower standing individuals of North American society. This also clearly models the downward flow theory of adoption of fashion; a style first adopted by people at the top of the social pyramid then gradually winning acceptance at progressively lower social levels (Stone 2008). An innovation of fashion similar to that of â€Å"The Preppy Look† is Christian Door’s 1947 â€Å"New Look†. The Haute Couture house introduced it right after the World War II. Contrast to the conservative wartime dressing, this profligate use of materials was well accepted amongst the social elite. Only a tiny minority of women was in a session to purchase the New Look. Because of its singularity and the fact that no other alternatives were available, the years following 1947 saw the trickling down of the it to department stores and then to patterns that could be easily used at home. The fashion system is an instrument of meaning. Consisting of a vast array of methodically linked elements that take the meaning of something from one end to another, changing and reinterpreting it to suit society. With examples of the preppie look and Door’s New Look, the diffusion from high society to mass-market clearly wows the way by which meaning quickly changes and adapts around cultural principles and its repercussion reformation. 3 Misconceptions About Fashion Fashion has grown and transcended from bare necessity to a form of non-verbal communication, almost like an extension of the body. With it, there are common misconceptions that are still vastly kept. One of them is that fashion designers and retailers govern what fashion is or will be, forcefully imposing it onto helpless consumers. Although, to a certain extent, designers and retailers play a vital role in the fashion system as gatherers of meaning and injecting them into consumer goods (McCracken 1986). However, in actual fact, consumers are the ones who decide the contents of fashion, what it will be. By their acceptance or rejection of an offered aesthetic, the design direction is then focused onto accommodating the consumer. In the example of the upward flow theory of adoption, fashion styles can be seen coming from mass-market, low standing society. With the evolution of fashion dissemination throughout the decades, the way fashion moves has progressively opposed what it used to be 50 ears ago. Beginning in low-income social groups, fashion trends from there move upward into the higher-income groups (Elaine Stone 2008). An example covered by Elaine Stone’s article is the T-shirt. Generally associated with blue-collared workers and commonplace sportswear, it took a turn during the sass, igniting a brand new fashion cottage industry. The Channel No. 5 T-shirt was the epitome of what was in-vogue then. As a result, retailers and producers look towards this new direction of fashion flow, radically revising their methods of fashion forecasting. Today, more effort is focused on pr ©t- ¤-porter runways, aiming at the youths. Fashion is not governed by anyone nor is it a helpless process of induction to its consumers. The consumer plays a vital role in influencing and being influence by designers and retailers alike. The second misconception about fashion is that it acts as an influence solely on women. Men and children are as equally responsive and influenced as women towards fashion. A demand for styles and specific products in menswear and childlessness be it in suits, hairstyles or shoes, Justifies the fact that there is an end hat reciprocates and influences. In the case study of â€Å"The Perfecto Jacket†, we see again the upward flow theory of adoption, in light of menswear. The â€Å"Perfecto† motorcycle Jacket, by Shoot Brothers Company of New York, became a social signifier of rebellious youth culture. This was because of Maroon Brandon, when he wore one in the widely popular movie The Wild One in 1953. The sinister black sheen and knife-slash like zips personified an attitude of rebellion. It was an indicator of the way street style progressively became accepted as part of social culture (Polishes 1994). This clearly illustrated the fact that men from different social stratum had an influence and were influenced by fashion. There was a process of idealization and adoption, much like how women respond to fashion. The last misconception is that fashion an enigmatic and unpredictable force. Contrary to that belief, design direction and the way it changes can be quite accurately predicted by people known as fashion forecasters. These people study the basis of the fashion system to understand it and to utilize this knowledge into the business aspects of fashion. One major trend forecasting website is WOWS. Their method of research goes as follows – input, analysis and output. They offer a smà ¶rgà ¥sbord of analytical perspectives, from in-depth material predictions to aesthetic forecasts. In the article, Elaine Stone mentions that every action has a repercussion effect and questions its link towards fashion. With the Pearl Harbor bombings by the Japanese in 1941 and the terrorist attacks of the World Trade Center on September 1 1, 2001, it is evident how events that spark social change have an effect on fashion (Stone 2008). Those attacks inevitably led to a sense of nationalism and patriotism amongst the American people – aptly resulting in a trend for clothing and accessories of the colors white, blue and red. Fashion is not a complex force that requires an extreme level of clairvoyance, but is in fact a logical process that can be anticipated by ways of analysis of past, present and future. With its quick evolution and reinvention, fashion is a complex system that ideas seem to have been wrongly interpreted or conveyed. Some of which involve the misunderstanding of consumer roles to the fact that fashion is too complicated to anticipate. However fashion does in fact engage in a healthy designer/retailer-to- nonuser relationship and through immense study of it, can be accurately predicted. Fashion has grown to be something more tangible and cognitively assimilative. Fast Fashion Consumerism is something we witness on a daily basis. We are incessantly bombarded with imagery that encourages the extensive purchase of products. It is everywhere. In this media saturated world, there is no escape. Fashion in this sense, is exploited. People of the fashion world have become so hungry (Polishes 1994). The fashion cycle gives us a clear idea of how this vicious recess works – ideas are generalized, produced, adopted then dropped (McCracken 1986). This all happens at an alarming rate that coincides with the biannual fashion calendar. In a year, there are two conspicuous seasonal showcases – Spring/Summer and Audiometer; each happening almost a full season ahead of the actual (for business practicalities). In between that we have Haute Couture, Menswear, Cruise and Resort collection showcases (Mode  ¤ Paris 2013). That totals about 8 shows in a year for the average homogeneous fashion house, a frenetic pace of activity. With its products there, the question then begets – What is the driving force of the fashion system? The consumers. Fashion acts as a social determinant. People are greatly concerned about the way they look, it affects they way one is perceived and how one feels about oneself (Gains 1999). The desire to imitate celebrities and the influential people of society is factor that is continually growing on consumers of all ages and the buying power throughout Europe (Simmer 1904 Reenact 2005). The followers of fashion are the bulk of what the fashion industry is, owes it to its lowers (Stone 2008). Fashion ideas are deemed fashionable when a sufficient amount of people accepts it, and these ideas later go out of style when people no longer associate with them (Gains 1999). Conversely, fashion acts as an outlet of self- expression, a promotion of individualism. Present-day youths tend to combine various styles to in turn create a look of their own. Noticing this, designers of clairvoyant nature have capitalized on it, encouraging this mixing-and-matching approach of fashion. Aside from the patronage of fashion, technology plays a huge part in the stimulation f fashion. The media acts as a convoy to the fashion system, disseminating information; being responsible for the image saturation in society. The fashion press stimulates and coaxes in consumers, famously inducing tastiness like â€Å"Shop till you drop† that psyched the American public into mass consumption (Gains 1999). In the example of fashion House Louis Button, their advertisements can be seen plastered on billboards and across the facades of their duplex stores. Their image distribution has also reached platforms like social media whereby they give the consumer a more p-to-date, interactive experience to the brand. It is this way that Louis Button garners patriotism and markets itself and it is this advocacy of consumerism by meaner of media that helps transfer meaning of products towards the consumer. Technological advancements and changing business dynamics are also factors that act as catalysts towards fast fashion. In delineative case study of China and Italy by Simons Serge Reenact, a shift of dominance in production in the amalgamated silk industry of both countries could be observed with the improvement of technology. The efficiency of production and new distribution channels that inversely reflect societal reforms have inevitably contributed to the pace at which fast fashion has increased further (Reenact 2005). The fashion world is one that comprises of its innovators, hungry-for-more consumers and the people who exploit it. Fashion can be said as a salient notion of planned obsolesce (Gains 1999). Fashion is presented ahead of its intended period of usage, adopted and deemed fashionable, then obsolete when the same people quit it. It is a cycle that repeats itself on a seasonal basis, with its people almost nonchalantly and blindly embracing it. How to cite Fashion Flow Theories: Misconceptions, Essays

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Interpreting Accounting Information for Decision Making System

Question: Discuss about the Interpreting Accounting Information for Decision Making System. Answer: Introduction: In the month of December 2016, all the financial transactions of the company have been recorded. Evaluation of the profitability achieved by the company is the objective of preparing the report. The company have been involved in selling three products and the profits is analyzed for all the types of products. The objective of the report is to provide an appropriate recommendation to the management of the company by analyzing the profits generated from different products (Demski, 2013). Analyzing the financials of the company is the main aim and the analysis is done using the statement of profit and loss. Various types of the financial transactions associated with the business is also analyzed. Report also analyses the financials of the company using ratio calculation and this comprise of the liquidity ratio and profitability ratio (Reimers, 2014). Evaluating Splash performance for December 2016: It is clearly depicted from the report presented that the management of the company has disclosed the financial performance of the company concerning the previous year. Three aspect have been chosen in order to gain the increased understanding of the research. These three aspect comprise of train, race and many more. According to the demand of market, all the three aspects have ample returns and distinct selling quantities (Collier, 2015). It is shown in the table below: Profit and loss statement summarizes all the types of expenses, revenues and cost incurred during the particular financial year. It is known by different names and most of the losses incurred and gains received by the organization are included in the profit and loss statement (Demyanenko Rozhelyuk, 2016). Return on equity and net profit margin are some of the ratios demonstrated under the profitability ratio. ROE= (1193.30/61193.30)= 1.95% Balance sheet what does it do and what is your analysis? Provide ratios. Balance sheet is the financial statement of the company, which summarizes the liabilities, asset and the shareholders equity at the particular point of time (Romney et al., 2013). It gives an idea to the investors about the amount invested by the company and the amount, which the company owes to others. Liquidity ratio is the main ratio taken into consideration. Current ratio is obtained by dividing current assets by current liabilities. CA= 4116+ 3672+4664+102152.44= 114604.44 CL= 400+ 34210= 34610 Whereas CA stands for Current assets and CL stands for current liabilities CR = 114604.44/ 34610 = 3.311 Whereas CR stands for Current Ratio The accounts transaction is terms of the application of the various types of the balances concerning accounts. They are directly related to the balances such as the total equity maintained, net profits and revenues earned by company. The application of the account of balances such as maintenance of such balance at banks and inventories (Quan et al., 2013). Concerning the liabilities, there are different types or say category of liabilities, which the company owes. There are association of various types of accounts, which is viewed to have the account payable. It include the account such as the account payable. There are different types of the accounts such as account that are payable to the accounts, which is used to view the accounts receivable. The amount of the accounts payable comes to 14663. The total valuation of the inventory comes to 3672. For race it stands at 4664 and for the train, the value stands at 4116. Recommendations It is observed that the net profit margin has declined and three types of gross rates were discovered. The recommendation offered by the analyst is about boosting the company efficiency by considering the below listed factors. It has been observed by train that the gross margin of the company in the previous year stands at 19.32%. In this regard, it is required on part of managers to prepare the strategy, which contributes in decreasing the cost of sales. This will help in dealing with the offerings of the gross profit of the company. Under the race product range, it was observed that the sales percentage of the company has increased. Therefore, under this product, the company needs to be efficient in manufacturing this product. It should avoid investing in two or more product range. Cost of sales and the production cost are included in the direct expenses. The cost of sales needs to be decreased over the financial year so that the company can experience increased profit margin rate. In the recent ear, the company has been experiencing liquidity position that is highly efficient. On this part, it is recommended to reduce the collection period of the debtors as it would help in lowering the bad debts and help in generating the increased amount of profit in short time span. Enhancing the sales would help in maintaining the constant development by increasing the efficiency. It is recommended to the operation managers to imbibe the process of production with highly efficient techniques. This will help the company in increasing the quantity of the goods sold. Additional reports suggested: Certain reports are to be prepared by the company as a part of advice. Statement of cash flow- it will be easy on the part of company to analyze the flow of cash into or out of the business by preparing the cash flow. Decisions should also be taken for the management of the future cash flow. Report on Gross margin based on product- the preparation of the gross margin report would indicate the gross margin of the entire product. It will help the company to segregate the products that are profitable to the company. Income statement that are changeable- the presentation of the report of the income statement will help in facilitating the company in realizing increasing or decreasing sales impact and the variability in the margin on the basis of net profit. Profitability based on segment- It is observed that the operations of the business of the company is segregated into three segments. The segment should be prepared because of the profitability report. This will help the business in realizing the business units, which are profitable. Conclusion: From the above analysis, it is concluded that compared to the selected two offering, the sales of train is at the highest level. The gross profit of the company is lower and for the offerings of the company, the cost of sales is at the top position. On the other hand, the competition of sales in the race product range as compared to other product has performed efficiently in sales. This is reason that the train has less cost of sales with higher gross profit margin. The sales amount of the race is lowered and the decreased cost of sales stands at $ 476. The fallen amount of sales has been attributable to the increased gross profit. The increased value of the gross profit stands at 73.84%. It is observed that the company would be able to attain huge amount of gross profit margin if there is decline in the amount of sales rather than the reduced cost of sales. Train has the highest variation in the sales and the sales cost as compared to the rate of return in the form of gross profit. Attainment of 73.84% gross profit has also reduced the difference for Race. Reference: Collier, P. M. (2015).Accounting for managers: Interpreting accounting information for decision making. John Wiley Sons. Demski, J. (2013).Managerial uses of accounting information. Springer Science Business Media. Demyanenko, M., Rozhelyuk, V. (2016). System Approach to Formation of Accounting Information for Management.Accounting and Finance, (2), 8-15. Quan, Q., Li, Y., Wang, L. (2013). Research of Accounting Information System Under E-Commerce. InProceedings of the International Conference on Information Engineering and Applications (IEA) 2012(pp. 679-686). Springer London. Reimers, J. L. (2014).Financial Accounting: Business Process Approach. Pearson Higher Ed. Romney, M. B., Steinbart, P. J., Mula, J. M., McNamara, R., Tonkin, T. (2013).Accounting Information Systems [1st Australasian edition]. Pearson Australia. Shoaei, S., Rahimi, R. (2014). Accounting Information System Cycles, Management Accounting Basis.Asian Journal of Research in Business Economics and Management,4(8), 381. Zare, I., Nekounam, J., Pirzad, A., Sedaghatjoo, F., Mosavimoyahar, S. (2013). Role of accounting information systems on relevance of accounting information.Life Science Journal,10(3s).